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BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is on the increase globally. Cardiovascular complications, such as left ventricular dysfunction is a major cause of death in patients with type II DM. Prior to the development of symptomatic heart failure, subclinical left ventricular dysfunction (systolic and diastolic) may exist for some time.AimThe aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of left ventricular dysfunction in non-hypertensive type II DM patients.MethodsA cross sectional study of left ventricular function in 90 normotensive type II diabetes mellitus patients using echocardiography was carried out. Healthy normotensive controls matched for age, sex, and body mass index were selected for comparison. Patients and controls who had hypertension (blood pressure of >140/90 mmHg), history of smoking, significant alcohol history, pregnancy, features of thyroid disease, or valvular heart disease were excluded. Left ventricular diastolic and systolic functions were assessed.ResultsNinety patients, (39 males and 51 females) and 90 healthy controls (39 males and 51 females) were enrolled. Mean age of patients was 50.76 ± 9.13 years and 51.33 ± 7.84 years for controls. Mean body mass index was 26.88 ± 4.73 kg/m2 in patients and 27.09 ± 4.04 kg/m2 in controls. Mean ejection fraction was 62.4% ± 8.47% and 68.52% ± 7.94% in patients and controls, respectively (P < 0.001). Fourteen (15.56%) patients had ejection fraction less than 55% compared to four (4.44%) in controls (P < 0.001; odds ratio = 3.96). Impaired diastolic function was found in 65.6% of patients compared to 3.3% of controls (P < 0.001). Left ventricular mass index of >99 kg/m2 in females and >115 kg/m2 in males was considered abnormal. The left ventricular mass index was also higher in patients than in controls (95.17 ± 25.67 g/m2 versus 85.40 ± 18.0 g/m2; P = 0.004).ConclusionNormotensive diabetic patients have a high prevalence of left ventricular dysfunction even in the absence of cardiac symptoms

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SummaryBackgroundHeart failure (HF) is a major health burden globally and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome, and factors determining these outcomes in patients admitted for acute HF and followed up for six months.MethodsThis was a hospital-based, prospective study. Subjects included consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of acute HF admitted to the medical wards of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Nigeria over one year. All had a full physical examination and relevant investigations, including echocardiography. Subjects were followed up for six months and reassessed for outcome/ endpoint, which was rehospitalisation or death. Factors that predicted these outcomes were also determined.ResultsThere were 160 subjects, 84 females and 76 males, age range 20 to 87 years, mean age 52.49 ± 13.89 years. Sixteen subjects (10.0%) were lost to follow up, 66 (41.3%) showed clinical improvement, 57 (35.6%) were rehospitalised, while 21 (13.1%) died. Determinants of rehospitalisation were New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, heart failure type, haemoglobin level at presentation and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Determinants of mortality were NYHA class and haemoglobin level at presentation.ConclusionHeart failure rehospitalisation and mortality rates of 35.6 and 13.1%, respectively, were high compared to developed countries.

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